No Political Motive Behind Telegram CEO’s Arrest: French President Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov is not politically motivated. Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris shortly after arriving on a private jet from Azerbaijan on Monday. 

Addressing the situation on social media platform X, Macron confirmed that the arrest is part of a judicial investigation rather than a political decision. The investigation reportedly involves allegations of non-cooperation with inquiries into cyber and financial crimes associated with Telegram.

The arrest has sparked widespread criticism, including from Elon Musk, who has accused European authorities of attacking free speech. 

Moscow has also expressed concern, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that the Russian government has not yet received official details regarding the charges against Durov. The arrest comes amid rising tensions between France and Russia, particularly in light of France’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and accusations that Russia is attempting to destabilise France ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Durov, who holds dual French and UAE citizenship, has previously stated that Telegram should remain neutral and not become entangled in geopolitical disputes. Telegram has close to one billion users and has affirmed that it complies with EU laws and is committed to enhancing its moderation practices.

The Russian embassy in Paris has faced difficulties in obtaining consular access to Durov, although it claims to be in touch with his legal team. Durov’s French citizenship, granted through a special procedure in 2021, is also under scrutiny. This rare process allows high-profile individuals who contribute to France’s international influence to obtain citizenship without fulfilling the usual residency requirements.